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Poster: Bridgewater Video Date: May 25, 2007 7:05am
Forum: stock_footage Subject: Re: A note about filming sunrises/sunsets

Yes, I have used gels/filters for many years (more in still photography) with good success. I tended to use star filters for lighting effect, soft center focus for bringing the subject forward and UV for fighting glare. I normally used the Cokin filter system and found it produced some awesome images. Then about a eight years ago I made the jump to all digital video and gave up most still photography. I primarily use Canon GL1s and GL2s now with Zeis lens's and I hesitate to use filters. They can cause autofocus issues and further complications that I prefer to avoid. The lenses are so nice, I hate to block them with anything. Most effects available in a filter I can now do in the edit on the computer. I would say that your suggested use, (to protect the camera lens & camera components) sounds like one of the best reasons I can imagine to use a filter today. The Canon cameras come with built in filters for use in bright light and that is what I now tend to use. I film in the very early morning and very late afternoon. The earths atmosphere is the best filter you can have against the sun. I also try not to leave the camera focused on one spot for more than just a few minutes. Still. with filters, gels and all. the truth is that you can damage your camera, use due caution!

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Poster: Arensky Date: May 25, 2007 9:49am
Forum: stock_footage Subject: Re: A note about filming sunrises/sunsets

Oh, yeah. That goes without saying. Morning, evening and hazy days are the safest, no doubt. I use Canon as well - both for video and time-lapse work. They are great cameras but, you're right, filters tend to screw up auto focus and exposure. That's why I'm moving toward turning off both automatic features and working from the hip like I used to do back when "film at eleven" was REALLY "film at eleven." Sometimes I really miss those days when I used REAL photographic film.

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Poster: Bridgewater Video Date: May 25, 2007 12:46pm
Forum: stock_footage Subject: Re: A note about filming sunrises/sunsets

Hmmmm.......I am looking at a Canon GL2 setting in front of me and I think back to say, 1980. I remember cameras being big and HEAVY. Film cameras meant you had to carry film and send it to be processed. Video of that day was very poor quality and very expensive. Very hard to edit. I like the world of photography today, but I think my past experience with older cameras and lenses make me see things different then say, a new student. No....I think I like it better in todays world. A lot more fun with a lot less work!
This post was modified by Bridgewater Video on 2007-05-25 19:46:28

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Poster: Arensky Date: May 25, 2007 2:17pm
Forum: stock_footage Subject: Re: A note about filming sunrises/sunsets

I said "miss them." I'm too lazy now to go back. :-) Besides, I've found the more I treat video like film, the more it acts like film. It used to drive my bosses at the station crazy. I always shot tape like I was really hefting a Bell & Howell 70-DR. And they didn't much care for my editing techniques either. I used cutaways and running inserts whenever I could. Believe it or not, I was seldom re-edited. I remember one colleague asking me if I REALLY wanted to learn to be a real videographer -- that is, if I ever I grew up. I never did.
This post was modified by Arensky on 2007-05-25 21:17:25